American Journalist Accused by FBI of Acting as Unregistered Chinese Agent in Alleged Influence Operation

An American journalist and political commentator who spent more than a decade living in China is facing a federal charge in the United States accusing him of acting as an unregistered agent for the Chinese government, according to court filings and an FBI affidavit.

Thomas Pauken II, who wrote under the pseudonym Tom McGregor while working with several Chinese state media outlets, allegedly prepared confidential reports for a Chinese intelligence-linked contact who told him the material was being passed to Chinese President Xi Jinping, according to an affidavit filed by FBI Special Agent Timothy Healy and first reported by POLITICO.

The affidavit alleges Pauken also helped connect his Chinese handler with another individual in the United States who was seeking a role in the Trump administration. According to the filing, Pauken later delivered a cellphone, laptop and SIM card to that person and offered a $10,000 payment in exchange for providing weekly reports that "would influence policy and be read by Xi Jinping."

Pauken reportedly told investigators he repeatedly refused requests for classified information. However, the affidavit says he believed there was an "80 percent chance" the other individual would eventually provide classified material to China despite his warnings not to do so.

The unnamed individual later obtained employment at a U.S. government agency, according to the filing.

Court records show Pauken was first confronted by the FBI after returning to the United States in January 2025. Rather than arresting him immediately, investigators allegedly instructed him to continue operating normally because "any sudden change in Pauken's plans could put Pauken at risk" from China's Ministry of State Security.

Pauken was arrested in February and remains in custody, as per POLITICO. A pre-indictment plea hearing has been scheduled for Friday, a proceeding that often signals ongoing plea negotiations.

His attorney, Charles Burnham, disputed the characterization of the case, saying Pauken "is not charged with spying or mishandling classified information," but rather with failing to register while doing "professional work for a foreign government."

The case emerges amid heightened tensions between Washington and Beijing over espionage and cyber operations. Last week, President Donald Trump openly acknowledged extensive U.S. intelligence activity targeting China, telling reporters after a summit in Beijing: "we spy like hell on them, too."